Council to Promote Launch of Rapid Charger Infrastructure in Japan in Fiscal 2009

A leading electricity provider, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), and three major Japanese automakers, Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (maker of Subaru automobiles), announced on August 5, 2009, that they will join forces to establish a council -- tentatively called the "Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council" -- in order to facilitate the deployment and standardization of rapid battery charging stations, which are essential for increasing electric vehicle (EV) usage in Japan. These companies have also organized a task force to coordinate establishing the Council to draw wider participation from companies, including automakers, electricity providers, battery charger manufacturers and charging service providers.

The EV models that Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy Industries brought to the market in July 2009, as well as the model Nissan plans to start selling in 2010, employ the battery charging method used by the rapid charger jointly developed by those automakers and TEPCO. There is a growing need for rapid charging facilities in order to increase the distance that EVs can be driven.

The Council will support the rapid charger deployment effort by consolidating the knowledge, technology and expertise of each member company and maximizing its application. It also plans to promote EV usage by standardizing battery charging methods and specifications.